The very style of Baabaa Nanak's teaching is couched in variety of similes,
allegories, metaphors, figurative or mystic representations. He takes a convenient
worldly object and describes it in such a poetic style so as to express some
of the subtler philosophical truths and thereby convey some deeper spiritual
message. For example, in the Gurbani, sword (Kirpaan) is used as a metaphor
of Spiritual Wisdom (Divine Knwledge, or Giaan; also spelt Gian, Giyan, Janan, etc.); because the darkness of ignorance (false ego, Maya, delusion,
false identity, doubts, etc.) can only be dispelled in the Light of the Spiritual Wisdom.
In other words, the All-pervading Divine Presence within (Mool) is experienced only with Spiritual
Wisdom.

It's really tragic, strange, infelicitous and regrettable that many
writers, researchers or Kathaakaars ignore or shun this very valuable
message of the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS)! Without applying
the Truth of the Gurbani in our daily life, Spiritual Progress or Unfoldment is unlikely.

Our Soul-consciousness (Joti-Svaroopa) is the fountainhead of Spiritual Wisdom.
This may lead to the following question: then what is it that makes it diluted
or obscured? Although the Soul-consciousness is untainted, however, due to one's Mayaic intellect , it behaves as the deluded mind or false ego-sense. On account
of such ignorant self-limitations, it behaves as if tainted by the worldly objects.
Our birth is the result of this deluded condition. But the same mind awakened
to its True Nature, free of worldly desires and fears, abandons its ignorant
delusion (subject-object division) and regains its Divine Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom).
The Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...) is Infinite, Unlimited and Unconditioned. So is the Light of the Spiritual Wisdom.
When the Divine Knowledge is overpowered by ignorance, the delusion of Maya arises in the mind. On the other hand, when one is firmly established
in the Aatam Giaan, the Maya's trickery comes to an end. The Light of this
intuitive wisdom turns even the worst worldly poison into immortalizing nectar.

When
armed with the sword of Giaan (Divine Knowledge or Spiritual Wisdom), one
constantly struggles with his mind and becomes invincible to the passions or
emotions connected with his Mayaic tendeencies and their dispositions. Just as a
warrior taking up the sword slays the heads of his enemies, similarly, the Gurbani
urges us arming ourselves with the sword of Spiritual Wisdom to eradicate the
formidable enemy called false ego (Haumai) along with its faults: lust, anger, greed,
attachment, self-conceit, envy, and stubborn mindedness (and their numerous
variations).

Thus, the contact of the Spiritual Spark (Soul) with material elements
creates a knot (egoism) which must be cut asunder if we want freedom from the
actions and reactions of fruitive work (causative Karma). Here freedom
means liberation from the cycle of reactionary work or birth-and-death repetition.
With the sword of Spiritual Wisdom in hand, wise men (the Gurmukhs) cut through the binding
knots of reactionary work (Kaarmic actions or Mayaic efforts) by reflecting on the Gur-Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar). Hence the Gurbani urges us giving up attraction to the sense objects and
take up the sword of Spiritual Wisdom sharpened by the Bhagati. Then
we will be able to cut the hard knot of illusory energy and cross to the other
side of the ocean of ignorance.

Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...) is pure Wisdom. Therefore, the true Wisdom is in becoming
no other than a Spiritual Being called Gurmukh in the Gurbani. In
nutshell, a Gurmukh is All Divine, armed with the sword of Spiritual
Wisdom. Opposite of the Gurmukh is called Manmukh (ignorant or
materialistic being) who represents the essence of animal propensities; who
is not really interesrted in the word of Spiritual Wisdom.

According to the Gurbani, Baabaa Nanak always wore a sword; but his sword was
none other than the Absolute Truth, and he secured this sword in a scabbard
made of Noble Virtues, and sharpened it on the grindstone of Divine Name!

Furthermore,
Baabaa Nanak also wore a Janeyu; but his Janeyu was the Spiritual
Wisdom!

Additionally, his ring and the rosary were the meditation on the Divine
Name, and true contentment was his Camarbandh (waistband)! As stated in his Bani, the Fifth Mahal too wore a dagger;
but his dagger was "to be the dust of all men's feet"! Again, one
cannot become so humble without Spiritual Wisdom. In conclusion, the entire
Gurbani urges us to take up the sword of Spiritual Wisdom and conquer the Mayaic
mind and associated death.

Therefore, the Gurbani asks us to orient life to the Spiritual Wisdom through the Shabad-Vichaar. But,
what is the real proof of Spiritual Wisdom in a person? The only way to know
if a person is Spiritually Wise (i.e., the Gurmukh) is to watch his actions; for the Wisdom shows
its true face in actions. Therefore, it is not what we say, but what we do that
matters. To put it otherwise, the real proof of Spiritual Wisdom is the absence
of desire for sense gratification (hunger of Maya-ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ). Realization of true Spiritual Wisdom is the
realization of the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...).

The Gurbani elaborates on the characteristics of such a man of Wisdom (Brahm
Giaan). In nutshell, he has overcome the false ego-sense and all its faults (i.e., Bikaar).

Such Gurmukh transcends Maya; he is free of duality (Doojaa-Bhaav); he abides in the Divine Hukam (ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬੰਦੇ-ਅਮਲੀ ਜੀਵਨ, ਹੁਕਮੀ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is linked to his Mool within (ਮੂਲ: Source, Origin, Truth, Jot...) and ever remains so; he is contented in all situations (Sach Santokhee); he is the follower of the Truth; his mind is linked to Antar-Aatmaa; he restrains his mind instead of following his mind; he remains integrated in the state of "ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ " - Ik Mani Ik Chiti; he is detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ; he is established in Bibek Budhi - ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ; hisAkal (ਅਕਲ , wisdom, intellect, reason, etc.) follows the Gurbani (Aatam Giaan Spiritual Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad); he is Aatam Giaanee or Brahm Giaanee ; he is established in Chauthaa Pada or Turiyaa Avasthaa (Tenth
Gate, Sahaj Avasthaa - Natural State of Being; Sunn Samaadhi, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, Shabad-Surti, etc.); he knows all the "Way of the soul" ("ਜਾਨੈ ਆਤਮ ਕੀ ਰਹਤ", ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is Jeevan Mukat (living Liberated or Enlightened); he is the fully "Awakened" one who is established at Dasam Duaar (the Tenth-Gate, the Highest Plane of Consciousness)...

While
a man of wisdom (Gurmukh) is naturally endowed with these Divine Virtues,
a spiritual seeker has to consciously cultivate them.